2020 Final Brochure.Pdf
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Pleon 2020 - Register now at www.pleon.org PLEON’S MISSION Pleon Yacht Club is a unique organization that emphasizes confidence, independence and responsibility through junior sailing. Since the Club’s founding in 1887, Pleon has been exclusively a “kids club” that is unaffiliated with any other yacht clubs or sailing organizations. All of Pleon’s members are under the age of twenty-one and club activities are led by Pleon’s Commodore and Flag Officers - all club members elected by their peers. Each year, Pleon Yacht Club organizes a Summer Sailing Program. The purpose of the Pleon Summer Sailing Program is to involve as many young people as possible in the sport of sailing in a fun, educational atmosphere that promotes independence and confidence, fosters teamwork and sportsmanship, and strengthens respect for oneself and others. The program supports both serious competitors and recreational sailors of all skill levels. The program is led by a full-time Program Director and a staff of experienced sailing instructors and coaches. All club and program activities are run out of Pleon’s own clubhouse in Marblehead, located on Marblehead Harbor at 42 Foster Street. PLEON YACHT CLUB AND THE 2020 SUMMER SAILING PROGRAM The 2020 Pleon Sailing Program will begin Monday, June 22nd and end Wednesday, August 19th. Select classes have the option to participate in either the Full Season or a shorter session. In those cases, 1st Session runs June 22 to July 17 and 2nd Session runs July 27 to August 19. Pleon’s Program Director, Kelly Leibowitz, runs the Summer Sailing Program with a staff of ~10 Instructors and Coaches and a number of Junior Instructors. To support the sailing program, Pleon owns a fleet of boats which are available for the club members to use including 33 Optimist Dinghies (Optis), 20 Club 420s, 6 Lasers, and 3 Sonars. In addition to the Summer Sailing Program, Pleon offers members a variety of fun “club” activities that are organized by the Commodore and the Flag Officers. These include social events such as cookouts, movie nights, Great Day, the Sailor’s and Commodore’s Balls, and Awards Night. All members are encouraged to participate in club leadership. Elections for Flag Officers are held in August for the following summer. Commodore Philip Jeffries will be on hand each day during the summer to lead club activities and answer any questions regarding club and social activities. Phil has sailed at Pleon for 10 years, competitively racing Optis and 420s. He has been a Junior Instructor for the last two years. His favorite part of Pleon is spending time helping young sailors learn the sport while creating a love of the water. Pleon 2020 - Register now at www.pleon.org LEARN TO SAIL CLASSES Pleon offers several learn to sail classes which are taught in Optimist Dinghies - commonly known as “Optis.” Optis are small, single-handed dinghies sailed worldwide and are currently the largest youth racing class. Pleon maintains a strong emphasis on fun, sailing-related games throughout these classes while teaching sailors rigging, boat handling, points of sail, safety, and seamanship, while enjoying time on the water with friends. Sailors typically start in the Intro to Pleon or Opti 1 class and progress into the more advanced classes each summer. Once sailors reach Opti 3 they are introduced to basic racing concepts while learning more advanced sailing skills and enjoying a fun Pleon club experience. We have fun theme days for our younger sailors each “Terrific Tuesday” where we encourage kids to dress up and award best costumes with freeze pops during morning meetings. Themes days include; Pirate Day, Hawaiin Day, Rockstar Day and more. There will be movie nights for kids multiple times per summer which will be announced at the start of the season as a social activity outside of class at no additional cost. Intro to Pleon - Typical Age Range: 8 - 9 year olds The Intro to Pleon class is a two week class for sailors who have little or no prior single-handed sailing experience. It is open to sailors 8 years or older who have completed 2nd grade and is intended to make them feel comfortable in Pleon’s environment and build confidence on the water. Fun will be a main focus and topics will include boat rigging, water safety and basic sailing. Sailors will sail in an Opti solo or paired up with another sailor. Instructors explain concepts and skills using “chalk-talks” on land, through concept-related games, and in daily morning meetings. Instructors reinforce classroom concepts using on water demonstrations, individual coaching, and on the water sailing drills. Opti 1 - Typical Age Range: 9 - 10 year olds This class is for sailors who have little or no prior single-handed boating experience, including those who have taken the Intro to Pleon class last season. The Opti 1 class is taught in the single-handed Opti, with occasional days sailing Sonars. Pleon maintains a strong emphasis on fun sailing and sailing-related games throughout the Opti 1 class. By the end of the program, sailors are expected to demonstrate knowledge of the parts of the boat, sail and rig, sailing nomenclature, and the fundamentals of rigging, boat handling, points of sail, water safety and seamanship. Instructors explain concepts and skills using “chalk-talks” on land, through fun games like knot tying competitions and during daily morning meetings. Instructors reinforce classroom concepts using on water demonstrations, individual coaching, on the water sailing drills like sailing around a course, and fun games like capture the flag in the harbor. As students progress they learn to be more confident, responsible and independent in rigging and sailing their boat. Pleon 2020 - Register now at www.pleon.org Opti 2 - Typical Age Range: 9 - 11 year olds This class is for sailors who have successfully completed the Opti 1 class or equivalent. The curriculum is an extension of the Opti 1 class with an emphasis on independence in rigging, boat handling and boat care. This is primarily a non-racing class. For those sailors recommended to take part in Marblehead Junior Race Week, the basics of racing will be covered. Classes will be taught in Optis, with occasional sailing in Sonars. Sailors who choose to only sail in Session 1 will likely be recommended to repeat Opti 2 the following summer. Instructors explain concepts and skills using “chalk-talks,” fun sailing-related games, and during daily morning meetings. Instructors reinforce classroom concepts using on water demonstrations, individual coaching, on the water sailing drills like sailing around a course, and fun games like capture the flag in the harbor. Coaches teach sportsmanship and teamwork on and off the water. OPTI RACING CLASSES Optimist racing classes are for older sailors who have completed Opti 2 and want to focus on more advanced boat handling and racing techniques. These classes have a focus on racing while maintaining a fun sailing experience. Instructors explain concepts and skills on land and during daily morning meetings and reinforce classroom concepts on the water with demonstrations, individual coaching, and through racing drills. Games are also played on the water to build boat handling skills. Sailors will race in Pleon’s weekly Wednesday Series race day, while also traveling together to attend local, regional and national regattas as they progress. Opti 3 - Typical Age Range: 10 - 12 year olds Pleon’s Opti 3 class is for sailors who have successfully completed the Opti 2 class or equivalent. Opti 3 will be the first introduction to racing for most sailors. Sailors will continue to improve their sailing skills through more advanced boat handling techniques and simple tactical planning and decision making while they learn basic racing skills through drills and practice racing. Skills Taught: Proper sail trim and body positioning to maintain control at all points of sail (upwind, downwind, reaching); Tack and gybe from/to any point of sail in control; Sailing in crowded situations; Sailing around a triangular course; Understanding basic race courses, starting sequence, and basic racing nomenclature. Typical Regattas: There are several regattas throughout Mass Bay to expose sailors to low pressure ”Green Fleet” regattas that cater to first-year racers, such as: Manchester Green Fleet Regatta, Squam Day, and Marblehead Junior Race Week. Pleon 2020 - Register now at www.pleon.org Opti Development - Typical Age Range: 11 - 13 year olds Pleon’s Opti Development class is for sailors who have completed Opti 3 and are motivated to continue sailing in a more race-focused environment. The sailors in this class are introduced to more advanced rigging and boat handling techniques. The class will have a heavier racing focus and sailors are encouraged to compete in local and regional regattas in their age-appropriate fleet (White, Blue and Red Fleets are age-based subsets of “Championship” racing). Sailors in this class are encouraged to own their own boat. Skills Taught: Introduction to racing in the Championship Fleet; Understand weight placement and sailing in different wind and wave conditions; Describe how to determine favored end of the start line; Understand concepts of clean air and wind shadow; Basic racing tactics. Typical Regattas: Sailors in Opti Development compete in local and regional Championship Fleet regattas, such as: New Bedford Junior Regatta, Hingham Bay Junior Regatta, Marblehead Junior Race Week, Squam Day, Duxbury Junior Regatta, Scituate Junior Regatta. Opti Race Team - Typical Age Range: 11 - 14 year olds leon’s Opti Development class is for sailors who have completed Opti 3 and are motivated to continue sailing in a more race-focused environment. The sailors in this class are introduced to more advanced rigging and boat handling techniques.